Geothermal
Heat and Cool your home using the earth natural energy. It’s Green, Clean, Renewable, and qualifies for some huge tax credits!
Both existing and new homes can benefit from Geothermal
How does a Geothermal heat pump work?
Geothermal systems work by harnessing the earths natural energy. No matter where in North Carolina you live the temperature beneath your home remains constant regardless of the season. Geothermal Heat Pump Systems harness the stable underground temperature to provide heating, cooling, and hot water at remarkably high efficiencies. Geothermal systems can lower energy use as much as 80%.
Standard heat pump systems work by either absorbing heat from the outside air in the heating mode or rejecting heat into the outside air during the summer. We cannot create heat, we can only change its form and move it from one place to another. Standard heat pumps must be able to operate in outdoor temperatures ranging from 20 degrees to 100+ degrees. Geothermal units take advantage of the earth’s very stable ground temperature which remains 55-60 degrees. Knowing exactly what our year round operating temperature will be allows us to design and build a heat pump system that is over twice as energy efficient as a standard system.
The two most common types of systems in our state are Horizontal Loop and Vertical Loop. The operating principles are the same for either system. Determining which type of system usually depends on the amount of available land for use.
A house on a small lot of ¼ to 1 acre would utilize the vertical loop system. In tighter spaces such as a city “in-fill” home the loops can be placed underneath the driveway or even the home maximizing the available space.
Homes constructed on Lots larger than an acre may have the option of a Horizontal Loop system.
SOUNDS GREAT, BUT HOW EXPENSIVE?
The initial cost of a geothermal heat pump system can range 40% - 60% higher than a high energy efficiency standard heat pump system but consider the following:
- Up to 50% of the cost for geothermal heat pumps is reimbursable through Federal and State tax incentives.
- Geothermal systems will consume on average 40% - 50% less energy than a standard heat pump system.
- The expected life expectancy of a geothermal system is over 20 years! A standard system is 12-14 years.
- Geothermal systems also provide hot water for use in the home.
- Geothermal systems require less maintenance than standard systems.
- No noisy unit running outside your home! Everything is hidden in the ground.
When tax incentives and life cycle cost are factored a geothermal heat pump system is less expensive than a standard heat pump system.
